World
Costumes for leaders in APEC meeting
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Source: CCTV.com | 11-17-2006 09:19
Special Report: Hu visits 4 Asian nations |
After Sunday's meeting, the 21 APEC leaders -- representing their differing nationalist modes and mannerisms will don Vietnam's ao dai, silk tunic for the closing ceremony. It is customary for all the leaders to appear in local dress to show solidarity with their Pacific neighbors.
Vietnam's most famous fashion designer, Minh Hanh, says she was more than flattered to be asked to design the outfits for the APEC leaders.
Mingh Hanh, Vietnamese designer said, “I feel very honored and proud of being chosen to make the costumes. But there are also huge pressures on me because I had to make 21 outfits for world leaders.”
Lotus flowers are woven into the ao dai, which Minh Hanh says is significant because it symbolizes her country and its people.
Mingh Hanh said, “I think lotus is a symbol of Vietnam. The lotus flower shows the Vietnamese character and Vietnamese people. The lotus flower has a purity, a lively, energetic beauty.”
The ao dai was worn in ancient Vietnam, with yellow reserved for the King, purple and red for high-ranking palace officials and blue for lower court officials. But the Organizers said the leaders could choose their own color of ao dai: yellow, red, blue or green.
Costumes for leaders in APEC meeting of past years
 2005 Busan, Korea |
 2004 Santiago de Chile |
 2002 Los Cabos, Mexico |
 2001 Shanghai, China |
 1998 Malaysia |
 1993 US |
Editor:Sun Luying
